X-Men '97 Returns Today With Omega-Level Villain

Published Sep 2, 2026, 9:25 AM EDT Ambrose Tardive is an editor on ScreenRant's Comics team. Over the past two years, he has developed into the internet's foremost authority on The Far Side. Outside of his work for ScreenRant, Ambrose works as an Adjunct English Instructor. Sign in to your ScreenRant account Warning! Spoilers ahead for X-Men '97 Season Two! Hit animated series X-Men '97 might have wrapped up Season Two a few weeks ago, but the story is far from over. In a crucial tie-in released today, Omega-level mutant villain Exodus gets more of a spotlight, shedding more light on the character's motivations and actions in the series. Exodus played a small but crucial role in the latest batch of X-Men '97 episodes. Longtime X-Men fans know just how intimidating an enemy the leader of the Acolytes can be, but his tenure in the '97 timeline was seemingly cut short in the episode "Strange Land, Savage Heart." Exodus's abrupt exit in that episode might or might not be the last time he appears on-screen in X-Men '97, but it isn't his final appearance in this version of X-continuity. That's because the X-Men '97 Season Two companion comic is still running, and Exodus is its chief antagonist. X-Men '97 Season Two #4 drops today. The comic is full of details that didn't make it into the show. For Exodus, in particular, it is an expansion of his '97 role that makes him even more critical to the overarching storyline of Season Two. And for fans who need more X-Men '97 in their lives after the TV show's devastating finale, the comic is a much-needed supplemental. Exodus Flexes His A-List Villain Potential In X-Men '97 Season Two The Comic X-Men '97 Season Two #4 (Of 5), By Steve Foxe & Salvador Espin The death of Exodus in X-Men '97's second season was a major shock. Especially for X-fans who expected more from the character, who has been an on-again-off-again enemy of mutant teams like the X-Men and X-Factor for 30+ years. Doubly so for fans who have been keeping up with Marvel's X-Men '97 Season Two comic book series, where Exodus has been positioned as a major player. In the series' penultimate issue, Exodus officially steps up and presents himself as the "heir to Apocalypse," making his play for mutant supremacy. This sets up a major battle for the next issue, coming October 14th, which touts a battle between Exodus' Acolytes and Apocalypse's followers as its big action climax. X-Men '97 Season Two has consistently been a solid expansion of the '97 world, and the series' fourth issue is no exception. That said, with a long wait ahead before Season Three of the TV show, what many fans are eager for is hints at what is to come next, while the Season Two comic is focused on fleshing out the second season's arc. Exodus Makes His Case For Big Bad Status In X-Men '97's Comic Addendum Marvel Comics' X-Men '97 Season Two tie-in has been strong supplemental material for the show, but readers have criticized the timing of its release. The first issue hit shelves a month before the TV series returned, helping to build hype for both the comic and the show. The second issue dropped on the same day as Episode 4 of the series, "Rise of Apocalypse Part 2." But after that, the disparity between weekly TV and monthly comic release schedules spiked the synergy X-Men '97 had been building between page and screen. The television show got too far ahead of the book. X-Men '97 Season Two #3 arrived the same day as the Season Two TV finale. Now, the final two issues are in danger of being an afterthought. They shouldn't be. It is a valuable piece of the overall puzzle for X-Men '97, and if Exodus returns in the future, it could prove to be more important than fans realize right now. X-Men '97 fans, what do you think of Exodus' role in the series? Does the comic make it better? Release Date July 1, 2026 Network Disney+ Series X-Men '97 Episodes 9